Rodeo time in March in Estes Park?

Back Pew Creations prepping for March performances

By By Doug Fox

Special to the Trail-Gazette

Posted:
01/28/2013 12:12:31 PM MST

Bonnie Ponderosa and the Longmont Kid. (Courtesy Photo)

Barb Cole is directing the performances. (Courtesy Photo)

Okay, Estesparkians. It's time to cowboy up, lasso the kids, herd 'em into the family fliver, and head to the rodeo! Not that rodeo - it comes in July. This is "The Great Estes Park Rodeo Caper or Anything for a Buck." That's the melodrama planned for March 8, 9, 15, 16, and 17 at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. The March 9 and 17 performances will be at 3 p.m. The other dates are all at 7 p.m.

Back Pew Creations is once again staging another premier performance of a melodrama written by Rich Mitchell. This is the third year for a Mitchell melodrama and this year's play is just as funny as the previous two.

Rich Mitchell is the author of the play. (Courtesy Photo)

All are loosely based on Estes Park history. "It includes a certain degree of historical accuracy," says Mitchell, "but it is not readily apparent to anyone who knows even the tiniest bit of Estes Park history."

Mitchell says there are facts from Estes Park's past that are true: there was and is an Estes Park Rodeo, people came to see it, people stayed in hotels, the Stanley hotel was the first hotel in town to have electricity, and convicts helped build Fall River Road. "Any other historical references that turn out to be accurate," says Mitchell, "are completely accidental and the author assumes no responsibility for them."

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Rehearsals are now underway for the melodrama and some of the characters from last year's play are back: The Longmont Kid, Bonnie Ponderosa, and Wade and Wanda Waggoner. Joining them will be Sheriff Beuford T. Clueless, innkeeper Abigail Miser, Annie Oakley's not so famous sister, Miss Oakley, and the usual assortment of characters including a hero, heroine, a rodeo manager, a rodeo queen, clowns, and a hotel maid.

Popcorn and sarsaparilla will be on sale as usual just outside the performance room.

Mark your calendars now for this special show that's guaranteed to make you laugh, throw popcorn at the performers, and hiss and boo the villains.

Tickets will go on sale soon for the show. All the money raised will go to three charities: Lifelong Learning of Estes Valley, Habitat for Humanity, and Crossroads Ministry.

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